Patan High Court Orders Release of Former Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand on Bail

The Patan High Court has ruled in favor of releasing former Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand on bail. The decision comes amid an ongoing trial related to the case of fake Bhutanese refugees.

The hearing, presided over by Judge Krishna Ram Koirala, has set the bail amount at 30 lakhs, paving the way for Khand’s release from custody. This decision follows a prior ruling by Judge Janak Pandey in favor of releasing Khand on bail, while another judge, Prakash Kharel, had expressed the opinion that Khand should remain in jail.

The disagreement among the judges was evident in the earlier stages of the case, with conflicting opinions on whether Khand should be granted bail or kept in prison. However, the recent decision by Judge Krishna Ram Koirala in the Patan High Court bench signals a resolution to the internal debate.

The Patan High Court, on Mangsir 15 (Dec 1), ordered the release of half of the 20 defendants who appeared in court on bail or from prison in connection to the bogus refugee case. Notably, the case took a unique turn as two out of the twenty judges had conflicting opinions specifically regarding Bal Krishna Khand’s release.

It’s worth mentioning that Khand, the former Home Minister, has been in custody since his arrest last Jestha. While the legal proceedings continue, the release order sheds light on the complexities surrounding the case and the varying perspectives within the judiciary.

As of now, ten out of the thirty individuals charged in the bogus refugee case have yet to appear in court and are reportedly out of contact. The developments in this case will continue to be closely monitored as it unfolds in the legal arena.